Method of rolling wheel disks



Jam 24, 1928. I 1,657,231

' J. w, SMITH METHOD OF ROLLING WHEEL DISKS Filed March 31, 1926 I INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

with

Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO BUDD WHEEL .GOMIANY, 0] PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OI PENNSYL- VAN-LA.

METHOD OF ROLLING WHEEL DISKB.

Application filed March 81, 1926. Serial No. 98,681.

The invention relates to a process of rolling metal disks and more particularly to the process of rolling thin steel' disks tapering from the center to the periphery such as are employed in the manufacture of vehicle wheels. I

The broad process of which this processis an improvement and an apparatus for carrying out that process are fully disclosed and claimed in my pending a plication for process of and apparatus for fdrging metallic disks, Serial No. 408,231, filed September 4, 1920.

In the practice of the method disclosed in said prior application, a metal blank to be worked is placed upon a rotating platen, the surface contour of which, in cases where the disk is to be given a slight taper, has a slight concavity conforming to the taper it is desired to give the disk. It is then clamped or otherwise suitably held against rotation relative to the platen, and a pair of narrow-faced rolls are brought b relative approaching movement ofthe p aten and rolls into engagement with the blank adjacent its center, and then traversed outwardly in opposite directions toward the pe riphery of the platen. In this outward movement, the blank is, by a combined rolling and spinning action, reduced in thickness and increased in diameter, and since the rolls travel in a direction at ri ht angles to the axis of the platen, the dis is given a taper corresponding to the contour of the surface of the platen. This method can be used to reduce either hot or cold blanks.

If, in the practice of this method, the rolls were traversed outwardly, while in their operative relation 'to the platen and blank bein worked, beyond the peripheral edge of t e -blank, it sometimes happened that waves or other irregularities were caused in the periphery of the disk, and this was especia y true in the case of hot blanks. Sometimes, the heavy pressure of the rolls on the blank just as it was passing oif the eriphery of the blank caused the metal to be lapped pleated or otherwise piled up in front of the rolls, which was liable to cause the lacement of the disk upon the platen e possibility of spoiling the product. In order to overcome this difliculty, the method forming the subject matter of the present application was conceived. It was found that all tendency to lapping, pleating, waving, etc., could be avoided, even if the blank was rolled right up to the peri hery thereof, by relieving the pressure 0? the rolls upon the disk just before the rolls had traversed beyond the periphery of the disk. In the accompanying drawings the novel improved process is illustrated diagrammatically in various stages of the rolling operating by means of apparatus similar to that disclosed in my prior application hereinbefore referred to.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the relative position of a rotating blank support, the blank thereon and a pair of traversing rolls at substantiall the beginning of a. rolling pass in accor ance with my improved process.

Fig. 2 shows the relative position of the parts in a second stage of the rolling rocess when the rolls have reached the erip ery of the blank but are still in ro ing contact therewith.

Fig. 3 shows therelative position of the parts in a third stage of the process as the rolls are passing out over the riphery of the disk and the pressure has en relieved by a relative separating movement of the disk and platen.

In the diagrammatic showing of an apparatus for carrying out the improved process of rolling a sheet steel disk, 10 represents a rotating support for the blank 11, which support is shown as having a slightly concaved surface corresponding to the taper to be given the finished disk, 11, Figs. 2 and 3.

12 and 13 are a pair of. conical narrow faced rolls for cooperation with the surface of the platen in spinning and'rolling a disk, the rolls and platen having relative a proaching and separating movement and the rolls are mounted so as to ermit their rotation while in contact wit the work and while so in contact they are traversed radially outward, as indicated by the arrows, by any suitable means, (not shown). As shown in the drawin they are moved outwardly in opposite directions and on a line at right angles to the axis of the rotating platen 10..

With the apparatus disclosed, the improved process is carried out as follows:

While the rolls and laten are separated theblanktoberoll is lacedonthe platen and suitably cents and clamped 0; otherwise secured against relative rotation on the platen. If the platen is not already rotatm its rotation is started, and

' then by a re ative approaching movement of the rolls and the laten, the rolls are projected against the b ank adjacent its center and then traversed outwardly in spiral paths until they reach the periphery of the b ank In such movement from approximately the position shown in Fig. 1, to the position shown in Fig. 2 the blank is reduced in thickness and expanded radiall to increase its diameter b a combined ro g and inning action. en the rolls have reac ed the position shown in Fig. 2, substantially the entire surface of the blank has been subjeoted to the rolling action. While the rolls are still mov' outwardly from the sition shown in 2, the pressure 0 the rolls upon the di is relieved by a relative se arating movement of the rolls and platen,

' the rolling roceeds with the result that the working face of the rolls pass outwardly beyond the peri hery of the disk out of rolling contact wit the same, and hence, preclude the possibility of the formation of waves, pleats, a or other piling up of the metal of the 'sk at the thinned out periphery with a possible spoilingnof the work. I

e improved method of rolling in which from the central rtion of the b ank toward its periphery w 'ch includes the step of relieving the rolling presure at the stage of the process when substantially the entire disk has been'subject to the rolling action, b whatever means or apparatus it is accomp shed, constitutes the essential novel feature of the invention, whereby a maximum speed of production be achieved with a of rejected What I claim and desire to secure by the rollin pressure before t before the roll or rolls pass of the edge of the T li f making thin dlsk f '2; e rocess o a o tapered cl use-section from a sheet metal blank of Even which coplsists concurren ro an spinning t e meta of the b1 I radiafiy outward to a progressively increasing degree and rolling circumferentially to a corresponding thickness the metal so spun and relieving 7 he roll or rolls pass oif t e edge of the blank.

3. The process of rolling disks which consists in placing the blank on a rotating sup port on which it is secured relative to the support, then subjecting it to the rolling action of outwardly traversing rolls whereb to concurrently reduce its thickness an increase its diameter, and terminating said rolling action before the rolls pass oh the peripheral ed of the blank.

4. The procem of ma tapered disks which consists in rolling a set metal blank along a spiral line from a point adjacent to its center to the riphery whereby to reduce its thickness and increase its diameter, and relieving the rolling pressure just as the roll or rolls are about to pass outwardly beyond the periphe ofv the disk.

5, The recess 0 making tapered disks out of a s eet metal blank of substantially even thickness which consists in subjectin the blank while rotating it to the action 0 a narrow-faced travefi'infi roll to spin and roll the metal of the b outwardly and in relieving the rolling resure substantially at the instant when t e roll is lat- 6. The rocess of making" tapered dish: from shee t metal blanks 'of subetantiall erally beyond the disk.

against rotation uniform thickness which consists in subjec ing the blank to the action of an outwardly traversing roll to roll the disk progressivel from the center to the hery, and in win the pressure of an ro after the com lete k has been subjected to its action but fore it p radially beyond the disk.

In testimony whereof he hereunto afilxes his signature.

JOHN w. sm'rn. 

